Conservation of Seals Act 1970

10 Power to grant licences

(1) A licence may be granted to any person by the Secretary of State authorising that person, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Act, but subject to compliance with any conditions specified in the licence.—

(a) for scientific or educational purposes to kill or take within an area specified in the licence by any means so specified other than by the use of strychnine any number of seals so specified;

(b) for the purposes of any zoological gardens or collection specified in the licence to take within an area specified in the licence by any means so specified any number of seals so specified;

(c) for—

(i) the prevention of damage to fisheries;

(ii) the reduction of a population surplus of seals for management purposes; or

(iii) the use of a population surplus of seals as a resource,

to kill or take within any area specified in the licence by any means so specified other than by the use of strychnine any number of seals so specified.

(2) A licence granted under this section may be revoked at any time by the Secretary of State and, without prejudice to any other liability to a penalty which he may have incurred under this or any other Act, any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any condition imposed on the grant of a licence under this section shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) The Secretary of State—

(a) shall consult the Council before granting a licence under this Act; and

(b) except in relation to the prevention of damage to fisheries shall not without the consent of the Council grant a licence to kill or take seals in a nature reserve within the meaning of section 15 of the [1949 c. 97.] National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or in an area which has been notified as a site of special scientific interest under section 23 of that Act.